PRAYAGRAJ, India — In the vibrant atmosphere of the Maha Kumbh festival, pilgrims journey towards the sacred bathing site in hopes of spiritual purification and salvation.
Their paths may cross for just a moment, yet they all depart with a shared mark of faith: a colorful tilak adorning their foreheads.
This sacred mark, composed of sandalwood paste, turmeric, and holy ash, is applied by Hindu priests and symbolizes individual connections to deities within Hinduism.
Each mark carries distinct meanings, reflecting the diverse spiritual landscape of the festival taking place in Prayagraj, where the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers meet.
The event, which saw a tragic loss of life in a recent stampede, is a historic convergence of different traditions and beliefs among Hindus—who make up roughly 80% of India’s population.
These forehead markings are a testament to the rich variety within Hinduism, crossing lines of caste and class while representing different religious communities unified under a common faith.
Numerous priests participate in this monumental task of applying tilak to eager pilgrims, which many of them view as a significant service to their religion.
As priest Shiv Kumar Pandey puts it, “You can wash away your sins and perform good deeds, but if a tilak isn’t placed on your forehead after your bath, it all goes to waste.”
A simple vermilion dot is a well-acknowledged symbol in Hindu culture, but during the festival, it evolves into a display of various forms and designs.
Some devotees sport three yellow horizontal strokes, while others exhibit two vertical white lines with a central red or yellow stripe.
Even more distinct markings can be seen, such as bold red vertical lines or written names of various Hindu deities in both Hindi and English.
Set against the backdrop of the holy riverbanks, Pandey skillfully paints these diverse symbols onto the foreheads of pilgrims.
After dipping his fingers in yellow vermillion, he ceremonially applies the mark, followed by an imprint of the chosen deity’s symbol, which may feature the powerful Lord Shiva or the highly revered Lord Ram.
In return for this spiritual blessing, pilgrims offer coins, pouches of rice, or even blankets, rewarding the priests for their service, which is steeped in tradition.
As each pilgrim bows in respect, the priest blesses them, believing that the tilak helps “protect and purify the mind as well as the body.”
Running from January 13 and spanning six weeks, the Maha Kumbh festival is expected to attract around 400 million individuals, many traveling from rural areas across the nation to partake in the festivities.
Pilgrims are steadfast in their belief that bathing in the sacred waters must always be followed by receiving a tilak from a Hindu priest to complete their purification process.
Among the crowds, Sushila Chauhan reflected on her experience just after she had taken her holy dip. Positioned away from the bustling throngs, she wore the name of “Mahakal”—a fierce embodiment of Lord Shiva—on her forehead.
“Because he is the god of the three worlds,” she noted, highlighting the deity’s role in creation, preservation, and destruction.
Chauhan attended the festival accompanied by a large family group. While the sun dipped lower in the sky, priests moved along the riverbank, bestowing tilaks upon each family member.
“It gives you concentration, peace of mind, and satisfaction,” Chauhan added. “It is also a symbol of our religion.”
